- Dawood associate Salim Dola deported from Turkey to India.
- Key international drug trafficker now in Delhi police custody.
- Dola’s arrest follows joint Indian and Turkish intelligence operations.
- Investigators seek details on Dola’s extensive drug network.
Salim Dola, a close associate of underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim and a key figure in international drug trafficking, has been brought back to India following his arrest in Turkey. He landed at a technical airport in Delhi earlier in the day after being deported from Istanbul.
The operation was carried out through coordinated efforts between Indian intelligence agencies and international counterparts, marking a significant development in the crackdown on transnational narcotics networks.
Arrest in Turkey, Questioning Underway
Dola, identified as a major drug trafficker, was recently detained in Istanbul. He was subsequently deported to India aboard a special aircraft. Intelligence officials are currently interrogating him, and he is expected to be handed over to the Mumbai Police for further investigation.
Authorities are likely to question him about the extent of his network and his links within India and abroad. He is a key accused in a major narcotics case being probed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
His detention in Turkey followed a joint operation by the country’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) and local police, reportedly based on an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued against him.
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Links to Dawood Network and Drug Trade
Investigators say Dola had direct links to Dawood Ibrahim’s network and played a crucial role in expanding drug trafficking operations in India. Reports suggest he was involved in running a large-scale narcotics trade worth thousands of crores annually.
Several illegal drug manufacturing units and labs linked to him have been uncovered across India. He is believed to have operated his network from Mumbai earlier and later from Dubai.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Crackdown on Network Intensifies
The latest deportation follows earlier actions against Dola’s network. In October 2025, the Mumbai Crime Branch brought back his close aide Mohammad Salim Sohail Shaikh, from Dubai. A month later, police also deported and arrested four of Dola’s family members, including his son Tahir Dola, from Dubai.
With Dola now in custody, investigators are expected to gain deeper insights into the operations of the syndicate and its international links.
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